UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS DARTMOUTH

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING ECE 201 CIRCUIT THEORY I CIRCUITS WITH OP AMPS

The OP AMP has three distinct operating regions the linear region, in which the output voltage is proportional to the difference between the two input voltages, and two saturation regions, where the output voltage takes on the value of either the positive or the negative power supply voltage. With two simplifying assumptions, we can readily analyze circuits containing these devices. The assumptions are: The OP AMP is ideal. The input resistance is infinite, the open-loop gain is infinite, and the output resistance is equal to zero. There is no current flowing into the input terminals and there is no voltage difference across them when the OP AMP is operating in the linear region. The OP AMP is operating in its linear region. To make this assumption, the circuit must have a negative feedback path from the OP AMP output terminal to the OP AMP inverting input terminal.

To analyze a circuit containing an OP AMP, begin by making the above assumptions. Then write one or more node equations at the OP AMP input terminals. (We dont write a node equation at the OP AMP output terminal because we have no way to determine the current flowing into that terminal.) 4- Step Analysis Process 1. Assume that the OP AMP is ideal and operating in its linear region. Label the two input nodes of the OP AMP, usually vp for the non-inverting terminal and vn for the inverting terminal. Label the OP AMP output node, usually vo.

2. If possible, calculate the numerical value of the node voltage at the non-inverting input. Remember that the ideal OP AMP assumption tells us that there is no current flowing into the OP AMP. If a numerical calculation is not possible, calculate the voltage at the noninverting input as a function of the source voltage or voltages connected to that terminal. 3. Write a KCL equation at the inverting input. Remember that by assumption, the voltage at the inverting input is the same as the voltage at the non-inverting input. The node voltage equation at the inverting input will always involve the output voltage because of the negative feedback path that allows the OP AMP to operate within its linear region. Solve the node voltage equation for the voltage at the output node. 4. Examine the voltage at the output node. If the OP AMP is actually operating within its linear region, the output voltage will be between the two power supply voltages. If it is, your analysis is complete. If it is not, then the output voltage is not the value that you calculated, but instead will saturate to the closest power supply voltage.

EXAMPLE Determine the output voltage.

V1 6V Rf 20k R1 4k R2 10k V3 2V V2 6V vp vn 2 6 3 7 1 5 741 vo 4 U1

1. Assume that the OP AMP is ideal and operating in its linear region. This allows us to assume that the currents flowing into the input terminals are equal to zero, and that the voltage difference between them is equal to zero. 2. Calculate the voltage at the non-inverting input. Since there is no current flowing into the non-inverting input, there is no voltage drop across the 10 k resistor. Therefore, the voltage vp = 2 V.

3. Write a node voltage equation at the inverting input.

vn 4000

vn - vo 20,000

=0

v n = v p = 2V v o = 12V
4. Examine the value of the output voltage. If the OP AMP is within its linear region of operation, the output voltage should be between -6 V and +6 V. Since the calculation gave the output voltage as 12 V, the OP AMP must be saturated, and the output voltage is the same as the value of the power supply closest to +12 V, or the output voltage is equal to +6 V.